January 22

Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13



Pray: Today’s reading is all about revelation. Much is revealed in the reading. The world doesn’t need any more information, our world is crying out for “revelation”. Ironically, God desires to reveal Himself to us in multiple ways. Ask the Lord to do so as you read the text and look for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you today.

Read: As you read the text allow the Holy Spirit to take you on an amazing journey filled with drama as Joseph has the cup placed in his brother Benjamin’s bag which would have made him a slave to Egypt and which would have killed his father to not have him back. There is the reality that the sons of Jacob are still having to wrestle with the results of their past sin toward Joseph. It is true that God is gracious to forgive us, yet it is also true that our sin does have consequences.

Edify: When Joseph demands that Benjamin stays as a slave to Egypt, it grips the heart of Judah for he knows the pain it will cause his father Jacob. No brother seemed to want to take a stand. Yet, in a rare step, Judah stepped forward and respectfully requested that Joseph take him as the slave and allow Benjamin to return to their father Jacob. This is a great sacrifice on Judah’s part, and in some ways Judah finds a redemptive moment from his earlier sins we read about in Genesis. How powerful is sacrifice to you? Do you find it encouraging when a person is willing to lay down his or her life for another? Remember, from the lineage of Judah will come King David, and from David will come the Messiah, Jesus Christ our Lord who laid down His life for you.

Practice: There are two powerful stories in today’s reading found in Matthew. Jesus feeds the large crowd and walks on water. Ironically, Peter was bold enough to think that he could join Jesus by walking on the water. Yes, Peter stepped out of the boat and shortly after became frightened and his eyes became focused on the fear and not Jesus. This is when he began to sink. Before we rush to a concluding “practice” today to tell you to keep your eyes focused on Jesus, we should first realize the necessity of getting out of the boat. You can’t walk on water while remaining in the boat. God’s dream, God’s purpose cannot be fulfilled in your life if you remain in apathy or if you stay frozen in fear of failure. Today, get out of the boat. Secondly, keep your eyes focused upon Jesus.